The Baptism of Jesus

There are two popular quotes about the craft of writing that I have heard over the years which have really stuck with me – partly because they are great advice and partly because they are pithy and memorable. The first, attributed to the poet TS Eliot, says: “Good writers borrow, great writers steal”. And the second, a piece of general wisdom about writing technique, encourages: “Show, don’t tell”.

“Good writers borrow, great writers steal”. In other words, a great writer has the ability to take an idea that has been used many times over and make it completely his or her own.  

“Show, don’t tell” is a way of adding drama and detail to a narrative, song, or poem. Rather than saying, “It’s cold outside”, an author can immerse the audience in the action by describing what a character is wearing or how frost has formed on the grass or a windshield. 

In crafting his Gospel, the divinely inspired writer Luke has demonstrated that he is an expert in both. Already, Luke has made it clear to his audience that the story of Jesus is a story that doesn’t begin with the birth of Jesus. He does this by (and I’m using this a bit tongue-in-cheek here) stealing outright from the Old Testament. Luke makes sure to show his readers that, just like God was at work in the lives of women like Sarai, He is at work in the life of Elizabeth and Zechariah at the birth of John. Luke mimics the prophets in introducing John’s ministry. And he makes sure to connect Jesus to the rest of the biblical story - demonstrating that Jesus’ lineage goes all the way back to God the Father.      

And perhaps nowhere else does Luke better adhere to the maxim “Show, don’t tell” than in the narrative of the Baptism of Jesus. He does it so quickly that it’s possible to blink and miss the whole episode. Luke simply writes, “Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized…”

For a brief moment we find Jesus entering the muddy waters of the Jordan River to be baptized along with all the others who had flocked to John. It’s strange though. Jesus - The Savior, the Son of God, The Messiah – submitting himself to a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Of course, Luke doesn’t explain the significance of this moment but as the narrative continues, it becomes clear that this is a defining moment for Jesus’ ministry.

In the waters of the Jordan, Jesus is exactly where He is supposed to be. He is walking and living among the people. Going where they are and being with them in all the moments that make up their lives. Of course, as the well-pleasing Son of God, Jesus isn’t just one of the people. His purpose is far greater. Jesus will be with his people, but Jesus will also stand in for his people.

On the cross, Jesus will stand before the judgement seat of God on our behalf, opening the heavens to us so that we might be with God. He comes to be the well-pleasing sacrifice to God on our behalf.

This is who Jesus is…this is what He has come to do. And here at his baptism Luke paints a picture for us that sets the tone of the entirety of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus is born, lives, and dies in order to stand between us and our sin.

And Jesus stands with you now, too - in the midst of the new, the unknown, the frightening, and the challenging. At times we might feel alone in it all but many times, ironically, the last thing we want to hear is someone telling us how it’s going to be OK...how it’s not as bad as it seems...in general giving us advice – things that we probably already know.

In these times what we really want is a different kind of intervention. Words don’t cut it, but the physical presence of another human being works wonders. My freshman year of college when I felt so overwhelmed with my first taste of finals week, my friend Dustin didn’t give me a chart to plot out all that I needed to do. He invited me to the library where he was going to work on his assignments so that we could work side by side. That was the intervention I needed.

A hand on a shoulder. A hug. These are the things that make a difference in difficult times. These are the things that matter. So, it’s not surprising that God’s plan to do something about the sin problem so prevalent in the world involves not just words but a physical act. The physical act of entering that creation to be with those whom God desires to save.

This is what the baptism of Jesus is all about. It’s a showing, a clear demonstration to all the people and to us, of what his ministry is all about. Jesus goes and stands where His people stand. Jesus goes and walks where they walk. Jesus goes and touches the sick and hurting.

Of course Jesus’ ministry doesn’t consist in solely being with us through the challenges of life. Jesus has come to defeat and destroy these challenges on our behalf. Jesus has come to be destroyed in our place, to be lonely and forsaken on the cross so that our once broken relationship with God is restored.

The Baptism of Jesus is the perfect beginning to the ministry of Jesus because it shows us what He is all about. Entering the lives of people for His people. Entering into death so that we might have life. The Baptism of Jesus also serves as a perfect picture of the Christian life. A picture of the ministry that Jesus continues to do in and through us, His Church on earth. 

The heart of the Gospel is that Jesus has entered this world for us. The heart of the Christian life is that we are called to enter into the life of another. To be with people in their times of celebration and their times of need. To follow Jesus into the difficulties of life.

Jesus entered into the world, and in the Gospels we see him consistently among the people. And through his Church he continues that ministry of sitting with, listening to, and talking with people who need his grace.

Luke shows us so clearly what Jesus is all about. Entering into a messy world. Being with messy people and standing with them. Standing in for them. And now? He calls us to follow him into the messy lives of others as we live as His people on earth. Amen.